Novel In Vitro System Sheds Light on Age-Specific Vaccine Responses

Novel In Vitro System May Revolutionize Vaccine Development Across Age Groups

A novel in vitro system developed by researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital could enhance how vaccines are tested and tailored for different age groups. This approach, called MEMPHIS (Modular Evaluation of Immunogenicity using Multi-Platform Human In vitro Systems), provides a faster, more precise way to predict vaccine responses in different age group.

How MEMPHIS Models Age-Specific Immune Responses

MEMPHIS allows scientists to model immune responses to mRNA vaccines “in a dish,” offering critical insights into why older adults may exhibit reduced immunity after vaccination compared to younger individuals. By adding the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine to blood samples from individuals across various age groups, researchers found that those over 60 had weaker early innate immune responses. In particular, they produced lower levels of key cytokines, including CXCL10, IFN-gamma, IL-1RA, and CCL4, which are vital for activating robust T cell-mediated immunity and generating long-lasting antibody responses.

According to the study, published in iScience, the muted initial immune response in older adults may help explain why immunity generated by vaccines often wanes more quickly in this population. The MEMPHIS system, which employs cutting-edge tools like proteomics and systems biology, enables researchers to analyze multiple variables, including vaccine dose and adjuvant effects, simultaneously in blood from the same donor. This technology aligns with the FDA’s 2022 Modernization Act 2.0, which promotes alternatives to traditional animal testing in drug and vaccine development.

Targeting Vulnerable Populations: From Infants to Elders

The implications of MEMPHIS extend beyond understanding vaccine responses in the elderly. Researchers plan to apply this platform to newborn infants, whose unique immune systems also respond differently to vaccines. Additionally, this tool could help identify blood biomarkers that predict which mRNA vaccine formulations will be most effective for specific populations, paving the way for personalized vaccine development.

“If we could elicit a young-adult-like innate immune response in an elder, we might be able to provide better, more durable protection,” noted Byron Brook, PhD, one of the study’s authors. This could be particularly impactful as the global population ages, and optimizing vaccine efficacy for older adults becomes increasingly critical.

Beyond improving vaccine performance, MEMPHIS represents a significant step toward reducing the reliance on animal models, which are often costly and may not fully capture human immune biology. With MEMPHIS, researchers can explore new vaccine strategies more efficiently, potentially speeding up the timeline for developing life-saving immunizations.